Tag: C.1.2 variant

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C.1.2 Variant Slows in SA; Colombian Variant Named Mu

On By ModernMedia
Computer image of SARS-CoV-2. From CDC at Pexels
Source: CDC on Pexels

The Network for Genomic Surveillance in South Africa (NGS-SA) has reported that the C.1.2 variant is spreading less slowly than in July, from 2.2% of all sequenced COVID cases to 1.5% in August, and is therefore unlikely to become a dominant variant.

Meanwhile, B.1.621,  another variant that first emerged in Colombia in January has been recently classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a variant of interest (VOI), receiving the Greek letter “Mu”. Since its first detection, it has spread across North America, South America and Europe, and has also been detected in Asia. The majority of the Mu sequences (5123) have been detected in North America (55%, n=2841) followed by South America (23%, n=1328), Europe (18%, n=948) and Asia (0.1%, n=6). As of 3 September 2021, Mu has not been detected in Africa. Thus far, it makes up less than 1% of the globally circulating viruses with Delta accounting for 88%.

NGS-SA, which includes the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), continuously and rigorously monitors SARS-CoV-2 sequences circulating in South Africa. This work is crucial in the early detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Mu.

Many of the mutations within the spike protein which define the Mu variant (T95I, E484K, N501Y, D614G, P681H and D950) have been seen before in other VOIs or variants of concern (VOCs) including Beta and Delta. Some of these mutations have previously been associated with decreased antibody responses and increased transmissibility. Therefore it is likely that Mu will have similar properties to other variants with increased transmissibility and reduced sensitivity to antibodies in vaccines and those who have recovered from COVID.

The NICD advises that both COVID vaccines being used in South Africa have high levels of protection against severe disease requiring hospitalisation and death even against VOI/VOCs such as Beta and Delta and therefore will likely also protect against Mu. 

Source: NICD

Categories : COVIDTags :

What is The C.1.2 Variant?

On By ModernMedia
Image by Quicknews

A preliminary study recently uploaded on the medRxiv preprint server, researchers detail the detection and characteristics of the C.1.2 variant of SARS-CoV-2, which has not yet been assigned a variant of interest (VOI) status, but which could potentially have increased transmission and immune escape potential.

The researchers describe how they identified a new SARS-CoV-2 variant, C.1.2. The first detection of this variant was during the third wave of infections in South Africa from May 2021 onwards, and has also been detected in seven other countries around the world.

New SARS-CoV-2 variants are commonly associated with new waves of infection. Like several other variants of concern (VOCs), C.1.2 has accumulated a number of substitutions beyond what would be expected from the background SARS-CoV-2 evolutionary rate. This suggests the likelihood that these mutations arose during a period of accelerated evolution in a single individual with prolonged viral infection through virus-host co-evolution. Deletions within the N-terminal domain have been evident in cases of prolonged infection, further supporting this hypothesis.

C.1.2 contains many mutations that have been identified in all four VOCs (Alpha, Beta, Delta and Gamma) and three VOIs (Kappa, Eta and Lambda) as well as additional mutations. Many of the shared mutations have been associated with improved ACE2 binding or furin cleavage, and reduced neutralisation activity, raising concern about the transmission potential of this variant. The next step is determining the functional impact of these mutations and to find out if they give it a replication advantage over the Delta variant.

The C.1.2 lineage is continuing to grow, and as of 20 August 2021, there were 80 C.1.2 sequences in GISAID, and the variant has now been detected in Botswana and in the Northern Cape of South Africa. Note that this study is yet to have the peer review process completed.

Source: MedRxiv